May 2009 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton edition of The Union News

Wilkes-Barre Labor Council honors workers killed on the job

BY PAUL TUCKER
THEUNIONNEWSSWB@AOL.COM

REGION, April 25th- The Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council labor federation held their fifth annual Workers’ Memorial Day observance on April 23rd at the International Union of Operating Engineers (IOUE) Local 542 Union Hall in Wilkes-Barre.

The organization conducted a “Candlelight Vigil,” that was attended by approximately 35 union embers and supporters. The program was held to honor workers in Luzerne County who have lost their lives while on the job over the past year, as well as those killed in work related fatalities in the past.

Since 1989 the labor community throughout the nation have held events recognizing April 28th, 1970, the anniversary date of the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHAct).

A workers special prayer was read by Reverend Patrick Sullivan of Kings College.

Pennsylvania State Representative, 121st Legislative District, Eddie Day Pashinski, who is a union member, read a State House Resolution recognizing April 23rd as Workers Memorial Day for 2009 in Luzerne County.

Those workers who have been killed on the job this past year and remembered were:

•William Hoover, a member of the United Food and Commerical Workers (UFCW) Union Local 1776 and a employee of the City of Pittston Maintenance Department who died on March 13th, 2009.

•Tim Ulmer, an employee of Conway Freight in Wilkes-Barre, who died on October 15th, 2008.

Although not killed while on the job, a special remembrance was paid to Robert Kubicki of Plains Township. Mr. Kubicki was a member of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Union Local 840. He was killed in an automobile accident while on his way to work an overtime assignment.

It was noted that 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of the Knox Coal Mine Disaster in Pittston. The mine disaster killed 12 miners and their names were acknowledged.

The names of two former employees of Air Products and members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Union Local Lodge 2200 who were killed while on the job in the past were read. The two killed were:

• Robert Doman, died on November 18th, 1984; and

• Lance Johnson, who died on November 9th, 1955.

The list of workers who lost their lives because of work related injuries in the Wyoming Valley contains more than 800 names.